Challenge your debating abilities and build confidence in public speaking as you perform, persuade, and entertain the audience with your display of knowledge of a topic of your choosing.

Youth Speaks : A Debate
Competition 2025-26

In this public speaking competition, Rotary Youth Speaks : A Debate, teams of three young people adopt the roles of Chairperson, Proposer and Opposer.

They present opposing views on a topic of their choice and are then asked a question(s) by a pre-selected member of the audience. Each team has 15 minutes to deliver their debate.

The competition aims to provide young people with: 

• experience speaking on a public platform as part of a team
• motivation to develop and present arguments on topical subjects while opposing another viewpoint
• discipline in dealing with a topic in a limited time
• the opportunity of learning and practising high standards of expression, presentation and appearance
• impartial feedback and assessment of their performance by experienced judges

Entrants can take part in the Intermediate (ages 11-13) or Senior (14-17) categories (ages as of 31st August 2025).